Tim Tebow, Mets GM Sandy Alderson On Minor League Signing

When Tim Tebow was last in the New York market, he was under center for the New York Jets. While the former University of Florida standout sold a whole bunch of No. 15 jerseys, he didn’t make a lot of plays for Gang Green and 2012 wound up being the last time Tebow was on an NFL regular season roster. After trying his luck with the Patriots and Eagles, Tebow turned his attention to broadcasting. After years of putting his charm, looks, and athletic background to use on television, he is returning to professional sports in New York. This time, he’s trying to make it with the Mets organization as an outfielder.

Tebow, 29, has not played baseball full time in more than a decade. In his recent audition for major league clubs, he reportedly struggled to hit off-speed pitches from former big-leaguers David Aardsma and Chad Smith. One scout told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that Tebow showed a below-average 40 grade arm on the 20-80 scouts scale – a reminder of why Tebow was never able to make it as a quarterback on the professional level. Even though he showed “undeniable hitting ability” in the view of Crasnick, one has to wonder how far Tebow can get given his age, rust, and athletic limitations.

Count Mets GM Sandy Alderson among those with faith in the polarizing athlete. Alderson told reporters on a conference call today that Tebow is not being brought in as a ploy to sell merchandise. While he recognizes that Tebow faces an uphill battle in many respects, the GM says that the Mets could not pass on “a tremendous opportunity for us to associate with excellence.”

“He has demonstrated through his personality a competitiveness that our players can see first hand,” said Alderson, who pointed to pitcher Seth Lugo and minor league standout T.J. Rivera as players who have come from obscurity to find success in the Mets organization. “I think any player evaluation starts with tools and from that standpoint, without grading everything out, suffice it to say that Tim has been a great athlete. He has demonstrated more than rudimentary baseball skills and we think with his commitment to success that this is an opportunity that we think is worthwhile. In terms of power, arm, foot speed, all of those things….we think he can be a baseball player. I think that is underscored by his competitiveness and his determination to succeed and improve.”

Alderson indicated that the Mets will be patient with Tebow as he refused to put a timeline on when the former Heisman Trophy winner could potentially reach the majors. The Mets will find out how ready Tebow is “over the next weeks, months, and possibly years,” though Alderson explained that he will be absent from his Instructional League commitments for “a few days each week” so that he can fulfill his TV obligations with the SEC Network.

So, why baseball and why now? Tebow explained that walking away from baseball was the “second hardest decision” he ever had to make and, in fact, he planned on making this switch more than a year ago.

“[Then Eagles coach] Chip Kelly called in the middle of baseball training and, to me, that wasn’t just any opportunity. I figured Coach Kelly’s offense might fit me really well. But, we all know how that turned out,” said Tebow with a self-deprecating laugh. “After that, I started doing a little [baseball] training. Then, after the season, I really picked it up and now we’re here.”

Tebow explained that as he traveled the country doing speaking engagements over the last few years, the itch to play baseball would move him to call up a local team and take batting practice with them. For UFC fans, this may be reminiscent of pro wrestler-turned-real fighter C.M. Punk telling the world that he has trained for MMA with the occasional jiu-jitsu class and a “background” in Kenpo karate. But, in both cases, one can’t help but be impressed by the athlete’s positive attitude, competitive drive, and willingness to take a monumental risk in a brand new endeavor. Punk does not speak of winning the welterweight title from Tyron Woodley and Tebow isn’t telling the world that he is an All-Star in the making. For Tebow, this is about pursuing a dream – perhaps a little late in his athletic life – and making sure that he does not wake up one day as a 50-year-old baseball fan with enormous regret.

“For me, I would consider success giving everything I have,” Tebow said. “That would be looking back on this journey and saying I did everything I could do to be the best I could be. I don’t necessarily view success as how many rings, championships, or promotions you get. I view it as whether I did everything I possibly could do to succeed.”

Zach Links is the editor and lead writer of Pro Football Rumors, MLBTR’s sister site for the NFL. You can follow Pro Football Rumors on Twitter – @pfrumors.

I understand that a lot of people will always hate New York and anything related because they live in a bubble and watch too many movies. That’s fine.

I hate ownership and will never make excuses for them. That said, I think they’re passed the point of doing things for attention. They’re no longer on the field or giving interviews. They don’t make the big trades/signings just to grab headlines. I think they’ve actually trusted Sandy Alderson and turned into more hands-off owners. You don’t read about Jeff Wilpon making a trade over the GM’s head anymore.

I don’t understand why everyone hates Tim Tebow?
All he’s ever done is try hard to be the best he can be like every other athlete.
Others can kneel down and pray and no one cares….TT is ridiculed for it.
This guy cares about others more than himself….yet people who don’t even know him ridicule him to no end.
Says more about them than it does Tebow.

I think the reason is because Tebow got so much attention over some “move” but wasn’t a very good player. He therefore is considered “overrated” and therefore disliked.
He seems like a nice enough fella.

It might as well of been Chad Smith the drummer from the Red Hot Chili Peppers… Once he starts seeing live pitching from players still in the game (some playing for a living dying to move up) he’s going to wish he stayed in the SEC network.

I don’t care how much instruction the guy gets, he’s going to be lucky to hit .200 at any level of the minors. Dude is 29 and hasn’t played competitive ball in over ten years.

It is a minor league contract. The sideshow will be in one of their A ball cities. Those teams usually are a side show to draw fans. Always a gimmick involved in the low minors.. Several teams apparently showed interest.

Alderson talked about “his commitment to success” and “his determination to succeed and improve.”
Tebow said “I would consider success giving everything I have,”
But he’s also going to take off roughly a third of the limited days this fall he could be putting into improving and giving everything he has, so he can go be a talking head on the SEC Network.

It might have cost him a bit of money, but he most certainly could have had the various agents and lawyers in his entourage figure something out.
But those people recognize he can’t burn any bridges since working for the SEC network is likely going to be his remaining career option 12 months from now.

I can’t stand the Mets but wish Tebow well. It would be a real Damon Runyon story if he pans out.

I found Alderson’s comment “He has demonstrated through his personality a competitiveness that our players can see first hand” truly laughable. Alderson should have confined himself to saying that the Mets take educated risks as other teams do. To the extent he puts his baseball cred on the line, that cred takes a hit.

Wow. A reported 100K bonus for a guy who hasn’t played above high-school level ball. Plenty of faith on the part of the Mets. Whether it’s faith in his ability to develop or faith in his ability to sell some merchandise, who knows?

The Mets signing Tebow is like the circus hiring a bearded lady, good only for drawing people under the big top. Good luck to TT, but this matter is difficult to take seriously. Apparently Tebow is already selling autographed baseballs ($125 a piece) on his website. Tebow would be well advised to undertake this circus, sorry, endeavour in as low key a manner as possible. Again, good luck, bearded lady. I mean, TT.

It is a minor league deal. They’ll control him just like any newly-signed prospect. He’ll basically earn what they decide, subject to minimums, unless the deal provides otherwise (which we don’t know). Given his age, he really won’t have a chance to earn much directly from the game even if he exceeds all expectations. Say by some miracle he cracks the Opening Day roster in 2018 and never turns back. He still wouldn’t hit arbitration until he is 33 and would be controlled by the Mets through his age-35 season.

He’d earn the league minimum, which isn’t nothing, but that’s hardly the pot of gold in baseball. Of course, if by some miracle Tebow makes the majors, he’ll be able to earn plenty from endorsements. And he already seems to have the autograph machine rolling to produce revenue.

Thanks Jeff. It’s certainly really interesting to watch this play out. It would make for a nice story to see him succeed. But a 35 year old FA for the first time? That would be funny. Assuming he lasts that long.

I share his religious beliefs, so there is some bias here. Even while he was in college there were signs he wouldn’t be a top NFL QB, but I think the guy is a great role model so I’m glad to see him back in the spotlight. I’d love to see him succeed in baseball. It would be a great story.

Everyone commenting here probably wishes they had an opportunity to play at some point–I know I did. Let’s be thankful we live in a place where he can continue to pursue a dream.